Adjustable spiral separator



F. PARDEE 4ADJUSTABLE! SPIRAL SEPARATOR l 921 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 4,

Nov, 25, 1924,

F. PARDEE ADJUSTABLE SPIRAL SEPARATOR Filed oct.'

4, 19214 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 NOV- 25 F. PARDEE ADJUSTABLE SPIRAL sEPARAToR Filed Oct. 4, 1921 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 25, 1924. v A 1,516,926 F. PARDEE ADJUSTABLE S PT RAL SEPARATOR Filed omA 4 1921 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 a vwmtoz N91-i. 25 i924,

F. PARDEE ADJUSTABLE SPIRAL SEPARATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet G Filed Oct,

Nov, 25, 1924. 1,516,926

F. PARDEE ADJUSTABLE SPIRAL SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 4, 19131 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 vwemtoz Nov. 25, 1924. L@

F', PARDE'E ADJUSTABLE SPIRAL SEPARATOT'.

Filed octv 4, 1921 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 nui/Emol?y fm/v/ffqmvff.

BY @WwW AT oRNEY ments Patented Nov. 255, 1924.

iddlti UNiTED STATES PATENT'OFFICE.

FRANK PARDEE, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ANTHRACTE SEPARATO'R COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTABLE SPIRAL SEPARATOR.

Application led October 4, 1921.

To all '1.0710111 t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK Pai-unan, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Spiral Separators7 'of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spiral separators and particularly to improvements in the construction of the runw ys thereof. Heretot'ore coal separators of this type have usually been constructed vot a number of xed sections forming a spiral runway ot fixed diameter substantially uniform throughout the length of the separator' and various expediente have been adopted for varying the friction of different portions of the runway so as to assist in causing the purer coal and slate or other refuse to travel in different paths along the runway.

The present invention is an improvement over prior constructions and includes means whereby the width or supporting area of the runway can be variedso as to release the purer coal travelingT near the vouter periphery thereoic so that it can be caught and conveyed by a suitable conveyor thread.

The improved structure also is arranged so that as the width of the runway is varied the friction exerted on the material traveling thereon is also varied at the saine time.

The invention as illu-strated in the accompanying drawings shows several em.

bodiiuents thereof in which- Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of a coal separator illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the spiral runway showing one complete turn;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan of parts shown in Fig. 2. one adjustable portieri being shown iu its outer position;

Figs. 3- and 3' show modified arrange- Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing details of construction ot one adjustable section of the runway;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5l of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sections on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view showing details ot construction;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are fragmentary views Serial No. 505,293.

showing an alternative arrangement to that illustrated in the foregoing figures;

Figs. 13 and 14 show different positions of the adjustable sections in a modified form ot the device;

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are detail sections on the correspondingly numbered lines of Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig. 18 is a partial plan View showing another modied structure for varying the width of the runway;

Fig. 19 illustrates the adjustable sections of Fig. 18 in another position;

Figs. 2O and 21 are partial plan views illustrating different positions of a further modified construction;

Figs. 22 and 23 illustrate a further modiiication.

Referring to Fig. 1 the separator com-- prises a central supporting post 1 having a series of upwardly and outwardly extending rods 2 which are adapted to support the various fixed and movable sections of the runway 3. The separator may be made with one 'or more separator runways as desired7 Fig. 1 showing a separator having three such runways. The central post 1 also carries a series of spirally arranged rods 4 which support an outer conveyor thread 5 which is adapted to catch the coal which flies off of the separator threads 3 as it travels along the runway. rThe conveyor 5 communicates at the bottom with a suitable chute adapted to lead the coal to a storage bin, not shown. Coal is ted to the runways or separator threads from suitable feed chutes 6 which are pivotally secured at 6a to the upper ends of said separator lthreads and adjustably held in an inclined position by means of the hangers 7. At the upperV end each separator thread is provided with flanges 8 adapted to prevent the mixture of coal and impurities from flyl ing off the runway as it is initially fed from the chute 6. These flanges S extend approximately .half way around the upper end of each separator thread.

Each separator thread 3 is identical in in construction and. therefore a description of one will suiice for all. These separator threads each consist of a runway including a plurality of upwardly and outwardly extending fixed plates 9 which are secured to the supporting rods 2. Similar plates of less width lthan the plates 9 are also secured to the rods 2. Between the pl-ates 9 and 10 are located adjustable sections 11 arranged to vary the width of the runway at' different locations along the spiral thread of the separator. Each adjustable section 11 includes an outer plate 12 having a downwardly extending pivot 13 formed thereon which passes through a suitable opening in the supporting rod 2. The opposite end 14 of this plate rests freely von another supporting rod 2 fand underlies the adjacent fixed plate l0. The inner part of `this adjustable section is formed in the shape of a substantially triangular plate 15 which is pivoted at 16 to the `rod 2 and rests on top of a fixed gusset plate 17 secured to the supporting rods 2 adjacent to the cent-ral post 1.v lThe plate 15 also projects underneath the adjacent xed plate 10. .he plates 12 and 15 are preferably, though not necessarily, smooth so as to permit the materials to travel qui-te freely thereon without undue friction. Between the'plates 12 and 15 are located ,a plurality of parallel bars 18 each of which `is provided with a downward pivot portion y 19 extending through a suitable aperture 2O formed in the supporting Arod rilhe several rods 18 and the plates 12 and 15 :are .connected to one another Aby -a .rod 21 :extending through elongated -slots 22 formed in 'the bars 18. ri'h-e rod 21 is provided with a .plurality of col-lars 23 and Cotter pins 24 to hold the .bars in substantially uni-for-mrspaced relation to `one vano-ther and yet permit them to be swung about their pivots .19, The plates 12 'and 15 are provided respectively with do wnw-ardly extending -iianges 2,5 and 26 through which the bar 21a-lso extends, suitable collars 227 Yand 28 loe-ing provided to yoperatively connect the -r-od 21 with said plates 12 and 15.

The bars 18 at one end are of reduced depth to form extensions 29, Fig. 5, which rest on Athe adjacent rod .2 and extend under the fixed plate 10. The several bars 18 .and plates l12 :and 15 forni a grating over which the material to 'be separated travels. It .is apparent the :trictfional effect .on the :ina-

'terial can he `varied by adjusting .the afngui.a1.' position of the bars. lt will `also be un er- .stood that when this grating swung inwardly or ontward-lyl the width .of the runway Vat .that location is respectively decreased or increased, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 which show the adjustable sections 11 in two different positions. i

'lzhe fixed .plates 19 and 1 0 ofthe runway are warped -to conform to va substantially true Spiral surface, that is to lsay, they are not merely fiat plates set at an angle. The supporting :rods 2, however, ,are straight ones extending outward and upward from the central supporting post. The free ends 29 of the bars 18 extend under the plates 10 and rest freely on the rods 2, so that the sections 11 can be readily adjusted inwardly or outwardly as desired, the bars 18 and plates 12 and 15 at such times swinging about their respective pivots. `It will be readily seen .that the supporting surface of the adjustable sections will maintain practically the saine pitch or downward and inward inclination at different positions ofadjustnient but that the width of the runway will be varied and that also the lengthwise angular position kof the bars 18 will be va ried, `as comparison of Figs. 2 and-3 will show. It is clear that this change in direction AOf the bars will vary the frictional effect on the coal and slate or other inaterials traveling thereon. The bars as shown present .their edges to the materials travel ingy thereon and exert what may be termed an edge friction7 on the material.

The bars 18, if desired, may be Icurved in plan as in Fig. 8a .instead of being straight as shown in Figs. 2 to 4. The curvature being either concentric with the central post when the adjustable section is in its inward position or otherwise as conditions -niay deem vnecessary or desirable. The bars need not necessarily vbe exactly parallel with each other and could be of other forms than varcuate formation. Instead of pivoting each bar von an individual .pivot Lthey could also be rigidly secured to suitable cross bars 18a underneath to .forma vgrid 218b which could be swung was a .unit about a single pivot 19n .as shown in Fig. 3".

ln Figs. 1 -to 8 the adjustable sections are pivoted at a location on the runway :lower .than their` kswinging or free ends, Ithe material vto be separated .flowing clockwise as indica-ted b v the arrow in Fig. 2. In other words, in these views the material flows toward the pivots of the bars. Figs. 10, 1l and 12 show au alternative arrangement in which the bars :18 and plates 12 and 15 `are ypivoted at .points on the spiral runway hi gher than their free or swinging ends. in .other words the material. flows away from the pivots or .toward the free ends of these members. Each arraiiigen'ient has .advaniu handlungr diifereut classes of coal. The structure of Figs. 1 to 8 is used with very goed results .in treating some classes of'bit'uminous coal as it allows the coal to rol-l and gather speed `and thereby separate l in a distinct path .frointhe slate and other impurities. VIt is known in this art that Vfor some fractures of bituminous coa'l it is necessary to roll the coal rather than 'have it slide ,so as to increase the speed thereof.

lau

tlattcr 'fracture so that these waste products will travel or: an inner path ot the runway. L

l/Vith the hars arranged as in Fie's. l0 and 11, when they are swung inwardly from position shown in Fig. 1() to that shown in F ig. il, the `triction on materials is increased thereby holding the slate and other refuse and accelerating thc movement ot the coal by causing it to roll. Friction ot' this sort has a slowing up etlect on the refuse material but tor the glossy or purer coal the tendency is to .inc the speed by causing it to roll, therefore, increasing the centritugal torce which cau-ses it to skim it ott onto the conveyor thread. TWhen the bars are swung outwardly toward the outer edge ot the runway as in Fig. 10, they follow more closely the natural lines or path ot' travel ot' the purer coal and therefore tend to aid in throwing it ott to a much greater extent than the slate and other impurities. the natural line of travel ot the slate being nearer the central post. The bars in this position tend to produce a frictional drag on the slate and other waste materials and direct them toward the .inner path` Either ot the above. described structures, it will be seen. can be arranged so as to both vary the width ot' the runway and also vary the amount ot friction exerted on the material flowing over the runi 'ay'.

For-swinging the adjustable sections I provide a spiral bar R which is slidably mounted in suitable brackets secured to the underside ot the fixed sections ot the runway. This bar is connected by shortlinlts L to the outer plates 12 ot' cach ot theV adjustable sections. A .hand lever l-l is pivoted at P to any convenient tired part ot the runway and is connected by a pin r and slot 72 to the spiral bar R. lt is clear that by moving the lever l-l the seve 'al sections can lie simultaneously adjusted. The hand lever lil carries a spring pressed latch rod lsf, the lower end ot which is adapted to engageI notches in a tixcd ratchet sector S so as to hold the sections 11 in their various adjusted positions. the latch rod being operated by a bell crank hand gripl lever 7i?.

llistiead ot using the pivoted members above described lor varying the width ot the runway. l. may employ other expediente such. shown in Figs. 13 to Figs. 13 to li' show a runway comprising fixed segments 3l) and 31 supported. at their upper radial edges 32 ou the rods 2 secured to the central post 1. Sliding plates 33 and are termed with sleeve portions or beads 35 which embrace the supporting rods 2". The lower edge 36 of the plate 33 overlaps the upper radial edge of the plate 34 as shown in Fig. 15. and the inner edges 35 and 36 also overlap the lixed gusset plates 37 secured to the supporting rods. The fixed segments 3() and 3l may be ot uniform. size throughout the entire length oit the spiral or the upper segment 30 may be ot greater radial length than the segment 31 as shown, the intermediate segments being uniformly graded in size. The effective width oit the runway at desired locations can be varied by sliding the plates 33 and 34 to different radial. positions as comparison of Figs. 13 and .14 will indicate.

13 and 19 show another arrangement in which movable plates are provided with slots 46 through which pass screws 47 which are secured in the radial supporting rods 2. The plates can be either swung about the screws 47 as a pivot, or by virtue ot the slotted connection they can be slida-bly adjusted inwardly or outwardly to secure various contours or variations ol the width et the runway. The plates 45 are associated with fixed segmental plates 48 supported on suitable rods 2 similar to the structures already described.

Figs. 2O and 21 show a lurther modilica tion wherein the width of the runway is varied by moving the plates 49 and 50 toward or away from the central supporting post. The plates are each provided with clamping screws 51 and 52 which pass through slots 53 and 54 formed in the 'tired segn'ients 55. 0n the underside of the ments 55 the screws 51 and 52 carry clamp nuts for securely holdine' the plates 49 and in desired positions or adjustment. The location and direction of the slots 53 and 54 can be plotted to secure various directions ot adjustment 'tor the plates 49 and 50 as willV be understood.

Figs. 22 and 23 show dill'erent positions ot adjustment ot a separator in which the runway comprises an upper tixcd scgii'ient 56 and a series ot' movable segments 57 which overlap each other at their adjacent radial edges and are each pivoted at 58 to a spiral bar or bracket 59 which carried by the central post. 'lhe segments 5T are notched at 60 so that when they are swung to the left, as in Fig. 23, they will clear the pivot studs oi? the adjacentsection. By swinging the segments 57. 227 to the lett they can be arranged. to torni a spiral runway ol" less diameter or width as shown in F ig. it desired the segments 57 could also be ar ranged to swing to the right and a special segment provided to close the gap which would be thus formed between the fixed segr ment 46 and the adjacent swinging seg ment 57. The swinging segments at their outer ends rest on a spiral bar 61 which is carried by the rods 2 secured to the central post. i

The adjustable plates of Figs. 13 to 23 inclusive can be provided with suitable ribs or roughened plates to increase the friction on the material traveling thereon. Illuslll() llt) tration oit the ribs or other triction surfaces has been omitted from these figures in the interest of clear-ness.

From the foregoing specification it will be clear to those skilled in this art that separators herein described include improvements over prior constructions and provide means whereby a single separator may be used Yfor treating or cleaning' a great variety ot coals or other materials. The adjustable sec ions providing means for releasing the purer materials and retarding the waste according to their varying natural characteristics.

While I have described with great particularity the embodiments of the invention herein illustrated, it is notI to be construed that I ain limited thereto as changes in arrangement and substitution of equivalents may be made without departing from the invention :as deiined in the following claims.

What I claim is l. A separator having Aa spiral separating runway and means for varying the 'width or supporting area of said runway so that a certain class of material traveling thereon can be centritugally discharged at different radial distances from the axis of the separator.

2. A separator having a spiral separating runway and movable members `forming part of the runway adapted to vary the width or supporting area thereof to control the radial zone at which a certain class of material will be discharged.

3. A Separator having a spiral ri'ui'way licor and means `tor simultaneously varying the supporting licor area of said runway 4and the frictional effect on the materials traveling on the runway.

il. A separator having a spiral runway including at least one section having a plurality of movable `bars forming part of the runway floor arranged to vary the width of the runway and also the frictional effect on the materials traveling thereon.

5. In a spiralseparator a movable lgirati-ng arranged to vary the width ot the ruuway and the i'rictional eiiiect on the Vmaterials traveling thereon.

6. A spiral separator including fat least one section coin-posed of a plurality of members joined to one another and movable as a unit and arranged `to vary the frictional series of spirally arranged fixed sections supported on said rods and intermediate sections movably mounted on other of said rods and arranged to vary the effective supporting area of the runway and to vary the distance from the axis atwhich lthe material will be discharged from the separator.

8. A spiral separator comprising a central supporting post having a series oit' upwardly and outwardly extending supporting rods secured thereto, a runway comprising a series o't spirally arranged fixed sections supported on said rods and intermedi- .ate sections each comprising a plurality of members forming a movable grating adapted to vary the widths of the runway and the trictional eiiect on the materials traveling thereon.

9. A spiral separator comprising a central supporting post having a series of upwardlyA and outwardlyV extending supporting rods secured thereon, a runway comv,p'risi-ng a series of spirally arranged fixedy sections supported on said rods and intermediate sections each comprising a plurality of members and including a grating pivoted on certain of said supporting rods and arranged to vary the :trictional eilect on the materials traveling on the runway.

10. In a spiral separator, a runway liav ing at least one movable section comprising inner and outei pivoted plates and a plurality ot intermediate parallel pivoted bars toi-ming part of the runway, said plates and bars being connected so they move together.

11. A spiral separator comprising a runway including a series of fixed sections and a series of gratings movable relatively thereto and arranged to vary both the `'tric- -tonal eiiect on the material traveling thereon and the radial Zone at which `the material will be discharged from the runway.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed Imy name.

FRANK PARDEE. 

